Suction nozzle



Oct. 8, 1940. J. E. BARRNER SUCTION NOZZLE Filed Feb. 1, 193a I N VEN TOR.

A ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8 1940 SUCTION NOZZLE Jacob Eliel Barrner, Camden, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1938, Serial No. 188,037

3 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to an improved suction nozzle for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner. More specifically, my invention relates to a nozzle of the duplex type which is capable of performing different types of cleaning.

In accordance with my invention I provide a nozzle with an elongated suction opening which is capable of covering a comparatively large surface of the object undergoing cleaning for each stroke of the nozzle, and a smaller suction opening in which the air flow is concentrated when it is desired to remove an object which adheres to the surface with such tenacity as to resist removal by the larger opening.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide such a nozzle in which either of the openings may be connected to the suction conduit by merely changing the inclination of the suction conduit, which also acts as a handle for manipulating the nozzle. I

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms -a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing a nozzle in accordance with my invention connected for use with a vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 2 is a top view on an enlarged scale of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 3--3 of Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. .4 is a bottom view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view takenuon th line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing certain parts in different relative positions.

Referring to the drawing, reference character III designates a vacuum cleaner unit including a casing within which is mounted a dust-separating member and a motor fan unit for producing flow of air. Secured to the inlet opening of the casing is a flexible hose II, the other end of which communicates with one end of a hollow handle I2. The other end of handle I2 is rigidly, but preferably removably, secured to an outlet connection I3 forming part of the nozzle I4.

Nozzle includes a hollow body portion I5 formed with a lower elongated suction opening I6 bounded by surface contacting lips ll. Disposed to one side of opening I6, and centrally with respect to the longitudinal extent of the opening is a surface contacting face I8 in which is formed a small suction opening I9. Face I8 is preferably formed with a plurality of grooves 5 20 extending from the outer edges of the face to the opening I9. At least some of these grooves are preferably tangential to the opening I9 in orderto cause whirling of the air at the opening.

The portion of lip H which is disposed between 10 the elongated opening I6 and the small opening I9 is preferably formed with a slot 2 I.

The central part of body I5 is formed with a semi-cylindrical recess 22 in which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical valve member 23 to which is rigidly secured the outlet connection member I3. A cap member 24 is secured to body I5, as

by means of bolts 25 and is formed with a semicylindrical recess 26, which is arranged so as to be complimentary to the recess 22 in the body I5. The upper central portion of cap 24 is formed with an opening 21 to permit member I3 to extend therethrough. Opening 21 has an extent in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the nozzle greater than the dimension in this direction of the member I3 in order to permit pivoting of the member within the opening.

Cylindrical valve member 23 is formed with an opening 28 which is preferably somewhat 30 larger than the opening I9. Opening 28 isso arranged that, upon rotating the valve member 23 it may be brought into communication with either the elongated opening I6, as shown in Fig.

5, or into the small opening I9, as shown in Fig. 7.

The above described nozzle operates as follows: The motor fan unit within vacuum cleaner I0 causes air to be drawn through nozzle I4, hollow handle I2 and hose II to the dust separating member contained within the vacuum cleaner.

If the valve member 23 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, that is, with opening 28 in communication with the elongated suction opening I6, the air will be drawn into the nozzle throughout the entire extent of opening I6. Inasmuch as this opening is comparatively long, a comparatively large area will be cleaned by the nozzle as it is moved back and forth over the surface undergoing cleaning. The suction produced by the fan is such that the air thus caused to flow inwardly through the suction opening I6 is able to remove ordinary dirt and dust embedded in,

or lying on the surface of a rug. However, should there be encountered threads, dog hairs or the like, which adhere tenaciously to the surface, the

suction effect at the large nozzle opening may not be sumcient to remove them. A more concentrated suction effect may be obtained by pivoting the hollow handle [2 so as to rotate the valve member 23 to the position shown in Fig. 7, where the opening 28 in the valve member communicates with the small suction opening I9. Inasmuch as all of the air flowing into the nozzle under these conditions is forced to pass through the small opening l9,'it will have a very high velocity and thus will be able to remove such objects that adhere strongly to the surface. The grooves 20 provide channels for the air to reach the opening l9 and the air traveling at a high velocity through these channels is able to remove objects not directly under the opening l9.

In case the valve member 23 is rotated to an intermediate position, such that the opening 28 communicates with both the elongated suction opening l6 and the small suction opening l9, the slot 2| is provided so that a thread or the like is not able to straddle that portion of the lip I! which is disposed between the two openings. If the lip were continuous at this point, one end of the thread might be drawn into the opening I9 while the other end might be drawn into the opening IS, with the result that the thread would remain straddling the lip and would not be drawn completely into the nozzle.

It will be noted that the peripheral extent of opening 28 in the valve member is such that the valve member may be rotated through a considerable arc while communication between the opening 28 and the elongated suction opening 16 remains unaltered. This permits a certain amount of variation in the inclination of the handle H. with respect to the floor without closing ofi flow through the elongated opening. This is desirable in order to accommodate operators of different height and also to permit the nozzle to be moved under furniture having a compara-- tively small clearance above the floor.

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby but is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, a hollow body formed with an elongated suction opening and a smaller suction opening, said openings being disposed side by side in substantially the same plane, said body being formed with acylindrlcal recess having its axis parallel to said elongated opening, said openings communicating with said recess at points spaced less than ninety degrees about the periphery of such recess, a hollow cylindrical valve member in said recess and formed with a port, said valve member being rotatable in said recess through an angle of less than ninety degrees to bring said port into communication with either of said openings, and a hollow handle connection member secured tothe periphery of said hollow cylindrical valve member and communicating with the interior thereof, whereby the handle connection member is pivotally connected to said body and pivoting thereof between positions less than ninety degrees apart and both lying between a vertical line and a horizontal line passing through said axis shifts said valve member.

2. In a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, a hollow body formed with an elongated suction opening and a smaller suction opening, said openings being disposed side by side in substantially the same plane, said openings being connected to each other by a slot, said body being formed with a cylindrical recess and separate passages connecting the respective openings with said recess, a rotatable valve member mounted in said recess for rotation about an axis parallel to said elongated opening, and a hollow handle securable to said valve member for rotating said valve member to establish communication through said passages between said hollow handle and either of said suction openings.

3. In a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, a hollow body formed with an elongated suction opening and a smaller suction opening, said openings being disposed side by side in substantially the same plane, said body being formed with a cylindrical recess communicating with both said openings and having its axis parallel to said elongated opening, a hollow cylindrical valve member in said recess and formed with a port, said valve member being rotatable in said recess to bring said port into communication with either of said openings, and a hollow handle connection member secured to the periphery of said hollow cylindrical valve member and communicating with the interior thereof, whereby the handle connection member is pivotally connected to said body and pivoting thereof shifts said valve member, the peripheral extent of said port being less than that of the aperture establishing communication between one of said suction openings and said recess, whereby said handle connection member may be pivoted within limits without reducing the cross-sectional area available for flow between said one of said suction openings and the interior of said valve member.

JACOB ELIEL BARRNER. 

